Hanwell Flight Circular Walk - from Boston Manor Station
Route facts
Waterways:
Grand Union Canal »
Circular route from: Boston Manor Tube Station
The Hanwell Flight of six locks, created in 1794, raise the water level by about 53ft in ½ mile. Each lock was built to accommodate a 14 foot wide barge or two 7 ft wide narrowboats side by side. Most of the locks have ‘side ponds’ beside them opened for use in about 1816 as a means of saving water. Some of the lock pounds have short flights of steps to aid the rescue of towing horses that had fallen into the canal.
In 1565 Sir Thomas Gresham was licence to ‘impark’ 600 acres at Osterley, subsequently in the same year increased to nearly 750 acres. Today Osterley Park, owned by the National Trust, has more than 100 acres of landscaped parkland and lakes surrounded by over 200 acres of active farmland.
Waypoints
1. The Plough public house
From Boston Manor Tube Station turn left b along Boston Road, crossing Wellmeadow Road. Opposite the Harvester pub-restaurant, turn left. Cross Southdown Avenue and continue along a driveway. Go ahead through a gap in the fence. Bear left along a path between fences and past a sports pavillion. At a path junction, continue ahead to decend amid woodland. As you reach the M4 bridge and the Grand Union Canal towpath, turn right across a concreate bridge. Follow the towpath for approximately two and a quarter miles. You will pass the Hanwell Flight of six locks and the remarkable Three Bridges construction designed by Brunel. Pass Norwood Top Lock (No.91) and cross the white bridge. At the road barrier turn left into Poplar Avenue. Bear right onto the main road (Tentelow Lane) and cross the road. Continue on the road past two turnings to The Plough pub.
2. Osterley Park
Turn left along an enclosed public footpath, signposted to St Mary’s Avenue beside the pub. Cross the road and continue along the footpath opposite which crosses a field. At the far side of the field climb the steps and follow the road over the M4 motorway. Once over the bridge admire the splendid farmhouse on your right with its walled garden. Do not enter the first metal gate along this road which is the entrance to Osterley Park Farm but turn right through the second entrance to enter Osterley Park. Keep going along this straight track, through farmland and an avenue of small-leaved lime trees, to reach a metal gate.
3. Hare & Hounds public house
Continue past the stable buildings and the main house, skirting the bottom of the Garden Lane. Pass the information kiosk and the automatic gate near the car park to enter the Main Avenue. Past the Farm Shop turn left through a gate and later another, to follow a track between fields. When the path ends bear left towards a brick wall, cross a track and continue to the pub, the Hare & Hounds. Turn left along the road to pass under the M4.
4. Boston Manor Station
After a further 440 yards just past a building on your left, turn right to go through a kissing gate and follow an enclosed path alongside a playing field. At the end of the path go through a metal gate to your right, then cross the railway line and follow the road ahead (Trumpers Way). Past the bridge, go down the steps on your right to the Grand Union Canal and turn left under the bridge along the towpath. Retrace your steps past Osterley Lock and turn left just before the M4 bridge onto the path through the trees. Walk back up Fal Road turning right at the end back onto Boston Road and back to Boston Manor Station.
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